eternity be, the abiding place and scene of activity of all mankind, who ever have been or will be born on it, through all the past and all the future ages. According to this school (if I may so dignify it), Spirits are here dwelling amongst us, taking note of all things that occur,—are eating, drinking, and doing all that we do.
Now, there is more common sense and reasonableness in these latter notions than in all the rest; for of the many guesses at the truth, this comes nearest to the mark. The faults which this theory has, are, however, very bad ones; for, first, it materializes the soul; second, it confines it here, nor even permits it to leave its prison, to roam the starry fields; and, third, it does injustice to God and His omnipotence, inasmuch as it practically doubts His providence, limits His power, and assumes that He was incompetent to provide spiritual homes for spiritual beings, and was compelled to make this a double world. If a spirit occupies any space at all, then, if this theory be true, not only is the surface above ground one compact mass of Spirits, but they form piles extending far higher than our loftiest mountains; for, since men have begun to die, they have continued to pass away at the rate of scores of millions every year for at least a hundred centuries.
I could not help disposing of this doctrine by means of the argumentum ad absurdum, for it was, and ever will be, totally unworthy of any more respectful treatment; and yet, as said before, it contains far more truth than either of the others, as will very shortly be, if not already herein seen.
People who lived in the days of Plato, Thales, and the great men of the olden time, could not have the same notions that we have; could not understand many
